Flying machine



y 1935. R. w. SEARS, 20., ET AL 2,001,158

FLYING MACHINE Original Filed June 12, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l y 1935. R. w. sEARs, 20., ET AL 2,001,158

FLYING MACHINE Original Filed June 12, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 M, W hr May 14, 1935.

R. W. SEARS, 2D., ET AL FLYING MACHINE Original Filed June 12, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet .5

Patented May 14, 1935 2,001,158 FLYING MACHINE 2 Richard W. Sears, 2d, and James F. Koca, Wood'- stock, 111.; said Koca assignor to said Sears, 2d

Applieation June 12, 1930, Serial No.@4 60 ,604 a neneweajAugustiaisss 17 Claims. (01.244-29) Our invention relates in general to chines or air vehicles, and one of the objects of the invention isto provide means for detaching from the fuselage the propelling mechanism.

[5 Another object of the invention is the provision ofmechanism for adjusting the center of gravity, combinedwith means for detaching the propelling, mechanism so" that after the latter has dropped, the remaining structure may continue Another object of the invention is the provision of improved andefiicient means for shifting the position of the aeroplane unit comprising the wings, relative to the fuselage.

Anotherobject of the invention is the provision of improved and efiicient meansfor shifting the seat of the .pilot to positions within reach of a plurality of pilot control levers. i

Moreparticularly it is the object of the present invention to provide electricallyoperated mechanlsm under thecontrol of the pilot for detaching the propellingmechanism including the propeller engine whenthe latter becomes inoperative and at the same time shifting the aeroplane unit rearwardly and the pilot seat forwardly from one pilot control lever to another to enable the structure remaining after the propelling mechanism i has dropped, to continue in flight "as a glider. Other objects of the inventionwill appearhereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in theappended claims. In the accompanying drawingsv fFig. l isa side elevation of a complete flying machineor air vehicle embodying our improvements Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation ofthe forward por on of the flying machine to show various novel features; v

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the u pilot seat and the mechanism for shifting thesame longitudinally of the fuselage; v r Fig. .4 isa sectional elevation taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows 8--8';- i i a i Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of'the ar- QFig. Gjis an "enlarged detail view showing the )0 detachable connectionsto the propelling mechanism; and e e Fig; 7 is a sectional plan view on the line 1-! of Figfi; 1 p

I Fig. :1 shows the fuselage 9 of" the flying ma.- q chine withthe usual direction rudder l0 and elevatin'g rudder l I at the tail end thereof. To

the fuselage are also. connectedthe usuallanding wheels 12 and I3. l v i i I To the forward-end oflthefuselage is secured on the transverse plane 14 the-propelling mecha- 5 .nism l 5 comprising theengine l 6 and propeller l l.

The fuselage 9 is preferably metal and its for- Ward end is closed by the transverse metal plate l8 against which fits the rear transverse metal plate 19 of the'eng'ine casingZfl. v

Projecting from the plate 29 through semi-circular openings 2|, 2| in the 'plate [8, are retaining arms 22, 22. These arms are preferably integral with the plate l9 and are each provided with a screwethreaded o pening for receiving the iii 7 screw-threaded portion 23' ofthe rod 24 as shown m mes. n

Secured rigidly to the rear of the plate as by means Of'liYBtS 25 arebrackets2fi,26, each of which is screw-threaded as illustrated at21 2 0 v in Fig. 6 toreceive the screw threaded portion 23; of the rod 24. .The retaining arms 22 fit closely against the outer surfaces of the brackets 26 and the screw threading. in I the brackets 26 and the arms 22 is exactly alike so that the arms 25 22 and brackets 26 gwhen in engagement with each other may act as a unit for receiving the screw-threaded portion 23 of the rod 24. A

Eachofthe rods 24 fits into a sleeve 28 and is splined thereto as shown. at 29 in Figs. 6 and 7 to 30 permit relative sliding movement between the rod 24 andthe sleeve 28, but no relative rotary movement between the same; The sleeves 2B are four in number as illustrated in Fig. 5, but this number may be varied asdesired." Each of the sleeves 28 is connected its a rod 30 which has keyed? thereto a worm wheel 3! The endsofthe rod 30 may bemounted to rotate in the bearings 32 and 33 fixed to the rear of the plate l8. 1 The gear wheels 3| are arranged in pairs, reach 4 pair being in thesame planeand the two pairs being in planes intersecting ,each other-and also the. axis ofthe. worm 34 which meshes with all four of the worm wheels 3 I as shown in Fig. 5;

Theworm 34 is mountedon a longitudinal shaft 35 which at its rear end is journaled inthe bearing 36-immediately in front of which is located a wormwheel 31. That is to say, the worm wheel 3'! iskeyed to the'shaft 35 to rotate therewith. The worm'38 meshes with the worm wheel 3! andis mounted on a transverse shaft 39 towhich an electric motor flllis connected. As shown in Fig. 4 the electric motor 40 is suspended from the bracket M which "is secured to one of the inside walls of the fuselage 9. The shaft 39 may be journaled in the brackets 42 and 43.

In order to have ample support for the central longitudinal shaft 35, a spider bracket having the arms 44 may be provided with the outer ends thereof secured by means of the bracket plates 45, 45 to the rear wall of the plate l8 as shown in Fig. 5. At the-center of the .arms 44 visa :bearing 46 for .thelong'itudinal shaft .35 intermediate the ends of the latter. The bearing 36 may be supportedfrom one of the arms 44 by means :of the bracket arm 4'! as shown in Fig. 2.

Keyed to the shaft 35 is a sprocket gear 48 "located between the bearing 46and the-wormgear 31. Meshing with the sprocket 48 is .a sprocket chain 49 as shown in Fig. 4. The sprocket chain 49 is endless and extends downwardly :from the sprocket 48 to sprockets 50 and 5| with which the sprocket chain 49 meshes in order to rotate the rods 52 and 53 to which the sprockets 50 and 51 arekeyed.

As shown in the-plan view in Fig. *3, the rods .52 and 53 are mounted loosely in'thebracketsfl, 55, 55 and "5! and 'in the brackets 58, "59, 60 and 'BI, all of which brackets are connected to the inner walls of the fuselage -9.

Asshown in'Fig. 3,*the'side wallsof 'thefuselage .8 are provided with-slots!!! and-63 for theinward- 15 extending arms 54, 65, 66 andfi'l.

.The lifting device which in this instance comprises upper :and lower rings 68 'and -69 is'rigidly connected bymeans of the struts 10, 1| and the cross-stays 1-2, "13. The aeroplane comprising upper and lower wings which extend laterally from the fuselage Qandtransversely thereof, constitutes the'aeroplane'unit and ismovable as such longitudinally of the fuselage. The inwardly-extending "arms-164, -65 and "56, 5'1 are-connected to the aeroplane unit and *these inwardly extending arms extend through thegu'ide slotsSZ and 68 and are screw-threaded to' receive the screw-threaded rods 52 and 53. When'the sprocket 48 is rotated-thesprockets 'iflend-5| and-the rods 52 and 53 will likewise be rotated. For instance, if they are rotated in 'a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4, theaeroplane unit will be moved rearwardly toward its dotted line position shown at 14 in Fig. 2.

The rear ends of the rods 52 and-5-3 areprovided with sprockets which -mesh with 'sprocket chains -l5 and 16 as shownin 'Figs.3 and 4. These sprocket chains "l5 and '15 also mesh "with the sprockets TI and '18 at the rear 'ends 'of the rods T9 and 89. The rods 19 and -'8IJ are'nrounted in bearings 8 l ,"82 and {83, 84 and are screw threaded through 'depending'brackets 85, =86 and B1, B8 'secured to thebottom-of the -pilots 'seat 89. The seat may be double as shownin Fig. 3 to carry another person inaddition to the-pilot. 'Within reach (if-the pilot-isthe-operating leverllil which controls the various elements in'the might.

The connections-are =such that whenithe aeroplane unit :is iin its *full lineiposition aswshown in Fig. 2, the pilots seat is :in its rearward position asshownfinfull lines:in.1?ig.;2. When'the aeroplane unit iis shifted to its dotted line position shown at M in Fig. 2, -the;pilots.seat lisshifted forward to .SitS position showmat '19:! iin .2 and at such time the pilot will be within reach of 'a duplicate operating lever.92. Therefore-the pilot may .control the ,propelling ,mechanism from his seat whether in the .position shown in full .lines in.-Fig.2 or in .theposition shownin dottedlines in Fig. 2. Whether theseat is rearward .or .forwardhehas withinhis reach the reversing switch 93 which is connected between the storage battery 94 and the electric motor 40. The pilot may therefore operate the motor 43 in either direction to shift the aeroplane unit rearwardly while at the same time shifting his own seat forwardly, thereby adjusting the center of gravity of the flying machine.

Itshould also-be noted that the pilotrmay operate the detaching mechanism and .drop .the propelling mechanism from the fuselage when the 1 engine becomes inoperative. The connections are preferably such that when the switch 93 is placed in proper position the rods 24 will each be rotated in .such direction as to withdraw the screw- .threadedportions v23 from the retaining arms 22 and as soonas this has been completely effected, the propelling mechanism will become completely detached and will drop from the fuselage, the semi-circular openings 2! being sufficiently large to permit free withdrawal of the retaining arms 22 from the :plate 1'8.

At the same time that the detaching mechis being operated by the electric motor 111 the sprocket chain -49 is being driven and the aeroplane unit is being moved rearwardly longi- 'tudinally of "the fuselage toward its dotted line position 14. At the same time, thepilots seatis beingmoved "forward toward :its dotted line position EH. Therefore when "the propelling mechanism is dropped off, the ,remainingystructurewill be properly balanced as to center of gravity and air lifting pressures to permit the pilot to :con- -tinue in flight while the machine is acting as a glider, thus permitting him tomakeasafe landing, whereas with a very heavy engine the machine-may get completely out of his 'control in"his efforts to glide to asafe landing. ,Afterthe propelling mechanism has been detached and .has dropped, the pilot may control the remaining structureas a glider;by-shifting at will his seat and-the aeroplane unit by Op rating the reversing switch 93 to open'and cloeed'positions pn either side of the pivot thereof.

'Bothsets of worm gearing 3'4, 3| ,and'38, 3.1 are self -lock.ing so that theywillbe operable only by the power from the electric motor "40 and'not by vibration or otherwise.

'We wish it also to be understood that the screw-threaded portions 23 'of-the-rods'lkmaybe lengthened so as to 'allow a limited amount of adjustment of the aeroplane unit and of the live load without dropping off the propelling-mechanism, in order 'to vary the center of gravityto compensate for distribution of the weight of passengers, freight and fuel carried in addition to the pilot.

Obviously "those skilled in the art may -make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended and we wish therefore'notto be restricted to the precise FCOl'lStl'llCtviOIllhBTCiIl'diS closed.

Having thus fully disclosed an embodiment of our :invention, what i we desireitorsecurebyiLe tiers Patent :of :the United States lis:

1. In an aeroplane, the combination .with1a fuselage, .of propelling mechanism -=,connected thereto, and .means under .thecontrol of the .pilot for detaching the propelling mechanism .andior simultaneously .readiusting the i center .of :gravity of the remaining structure, said means including members forv shifting certainpartsofthe machine .to compensate for the removal of .the,pr 0pelling mechanism.

with

" a fuselage, of an aeropIaneQunit adjustably mountedthereon, mechanism for shifting such unit longitudinally -of said ifuselage, mechanism for shifting the live 'loadto vary the center of gravityfof the machine as a whole, and poweroperatedmeans under the control of the pilot for operating simultaneously both of "said shifting mechanismsi i 3-.In a flying machine;the combination with a supporting frame, of propelling mechanism detachably connected thereto, anaeroplane unit adjustably mounted on said frame,a seat for the pilot, .mechanis m for shifting said seat forwardly while said unit is shifted rearwardly, and,

I power-operated mechanism controlled by said pilot to release said propelling mechanism to drop I the same while said machine is in flight, said power-operated mechanism also operating said shifting mechanism to adjust the center of gravity and the position of said unit to enable the structure remaining in flight to act as a glider.

4. In a flying machine the combinationwith afuselage, of detachable propelling mechanism therefor, an aeroplane unit, mechanism for ad-- justing the position of said unit longitudinally of said fuselage, and power-operated mechanism for detaching the propelling mechanism to drop the same and for adjusting the position of the aeroplane unit to enable the structure remaining in flight to act as aglider. M

5. In a flying machine, the combination with a fuselage, of propelling mechanism detachably connected thereto, an aeroplane unit adjustably mounted on said fuselage, mechanism for shifting said unit longitudinally of said fuselage,

means for detaching said propelling mechanism to drop the same from the fuselage, worm gearing connected to said shifting mechanism and said detaching means to operate both simultaneously to effect rearward movement of the said unit while said propelling mechanism is being detached, and a motor for driving said worm gearing.

6. In a flying machine, the combination with ,a fuselage, of an aeroplane unit adjustably .mounted thereon, an adjustable pilot seat, de-

tachable propelling mechanism, means compris- 1 ing screw-threaded rods extending longitudinally of the fuselage to shift the said aeroplane unit rearwardly and said pilot seat forwardly simultaneously, mechanism for detaching said propelling mechanism to drop the same from the machine, and mechanism operable by a single source of power for shifting said unit rearwardly and shiftingsaid pilot seat forwardly while detaching the propelling mechanism to enable the structure remaining after the motor has dropped to-continue in flight as a glider.

7. In a flying machine, the combination with a fuselage, of a pilot seat having a forward position and a rear position, separate pilot operating levers one for one position of said seat and the other for the other position thereof, and power-operated mechanism under the control of the pilot for shifting his seat to either of said positions.

8. In a flying machine, the combination with a fuselage of propelling mechanism detachably connected thereto, an aeroplane unit adjustably mounted on said fuselage, a pilot seat shiftable forwardly and rearwardly, separate pilot control levers one within reach of the pilot when'his seat is forward and the other when his seat is rear- Hward, mechanism for detaching the propelling to cause said unit to be shifted rearwardly and said seat-to beshifted forwardly while said propelling mechanism is beingv detached, and poweroperated mechanism under the control of the pilot for operating: all of the aforesaidimechanisms and after the propelling mechanisrnhas dropped to adjust the position of his. seat and the position of said aeroplane unit relative to said fuselage while the structure remaining after the propelling mechanism has dropped acts as a glider.

9. In an aeroplane, the combination of a fuselage and a propelling mechanism, including a prime mover, a first control member and a second control member, and a seat for the pilot normally disposed with respect to one of said control members for permitting the shifting of said control member by the pilot when he is in such seat, I

and means under the operation of the pilot when he is in his seat for shifting said seat longitudinally of the fuselage and adjacent to said second being longitudinally shiftable of the fuselage,

means under the control of the pilot and actuatable after a predetermined period of operation for automatically detaching the power unit from the fuselage, and means actuatable during said predetermined movement for shifting the wings and pilot seat longitudinally of. the fuselage, whereby to balance the center of gravity.

11. In a flying machine having a number of parts, means under the control of the pilot for dropping one of said parts while the machine is in flight, and means for changing the center of gravity of the remaining structure including mechanism for shifting a certain part thereof relative to the other remaining parts.

12. 'In a flying machine, the combination with a main frame of propelling mechanism connected thereto, and means under the control of the pilot for detaching the propelling mechanism and for changing the center of gravity of the remaining structure, said means including members for shifting certain parts of the machine to compensate for the removal of the propelling mechanism.

13. In an aeroplane, the combination with a main frame of propelling mechanism connected thereto, means under the control of the pilot for detaching the propelling mechanism and for ad-' certain limits prior to the detachment of the propelling mechanism.

14. In an aeroplane, the combination with a main frame of propelling mechanism connected thereto, means under the control of the pilot for detaching the propelling mechanism and for adjusting the center of gravity of the machine including mechanism for shifting certain parts thereof, said mechanism being operable within certain limits prior to the detachment of the propelling mechanism and being operable within greater limits after the detachment of the propelling mechanism to compensate for its removal.

15. In a flying machine, the combination with a main Iframe of zpropelling mechanism connected thereto, a seat shiftable with respect to the framelandzmovable between two positions, controlsfor the 'flying machine at each of said seat positionaandmeans forsdetaching the propelling mechanism from'themaohine while the machine is in flight and for shifting theseat from-one-to the othenofisaidpositions.

16. :In an aeroplane, the combination with a fuselage, of 'a lifting unit adjustably mounted thereon, mechanism for shifting such unit longitudinally of the fuselage, a seat, mechanism for shifting said seat longitudinally of the fuselageto .varyithe center'of gravity of'the-aeroplane as a whole, and power operated means under the control of the pilot 'for 1 operating simultaneousIy bothof said shifting .mechanisms.

17.:In an aeroplane, the combination with a fuselage, of a lifting unit adjustably mounted thereon,mechanism for shifting such unit longitudinally of the fuselage in one direction, a seat, mechanism for shifting said seat longitudinally ofthe fuselage in'the opposite direction to vary the center of gravity of the aeroplane asa whole, and power operated means under the control of the pilot for operating simultaneously and in predetermined speed relation looth of said shifting mechanisms.

RICHARD W. SEARS, II. JAMES F. KOCA. 

